Hand or power-operated mechanism



July 10, 1951 G. D. MovlcKl-:R ET AL HAND-OR POWER OPERATED MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 26, 1948 am n July 10 ,1951 G. D. MCvlcKER ETAL 2,560,465

f HAND OR POWER OPERATED MECHANISM Filed March 26, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS GRAHAM D. Mc V/KEI? EUGENE L. HOLSO/U AGENT Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED HAND R 'POWER-OPERATED `MECHANISM GrahamD.'MeVicker and"Eugene"L. Hoiston, San Diego, Calif.

Application March 26, 1948, Serial No. 17,304

31 Claim. l

O-ur invention relates to a power-operated'adjustable bed, and the objects of our invention are:

First, to provide a power-operated adjustable bed of this class having motorized -actuating means, provided with operating gears disengagable from each other by 4a manual operating handle, whereby very simple vand positive clutch means is provided for the release of the motor from the bed actuating screw when a power failure occurs.

Second, to provide a power-operated adjustable bed of this class in which the actuating mechanism is provided with novel limit switch means for preventing the motor thereof from actuating the head and foot sections of thebed beyond a certain position.

Third, to provide a power-operated,adjustable bed of this class having novelactuatinglinkage which permits the partial raising of thelbed head section before the foot section is raised.

Fourth, to provide a power-operated adjustable bed of this class in which only a single .operating motor is requiredffor operating both `head and foot sections of the adjustable bed.

Fifth, to provide a power-operated adjustable bed of this class having manualcrank means provided with simple detent mechanism which automatically holds the gear clutch disengaged during the manual operation of the handle.

Sixth, to provide a power-operated adjustable bed of this class having novel limit switch stop adjusting mechanism for controllingthe-electric motor of said power-operated adjustable bed, and

Seventh, to'provide a power-operated adjustable bed of this class which is `very simple and economical of construction, efiicient in operation, and which willnot readily deteriorate or Aget out of order.

With these and other objects in view, as -will appear hereinafter, our invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, forming a part of this application in which Fig. 1 is a `longitudinal sectional view of thepower-operating mechanism of our power-operated adjustable bed showing parts and portions in elevation to Vfacilitate the illustration. Fig. 2 is an end view of the actuating mechanism as shown in Fig. 1,-showing portions thereof broken awayand in section to amplify the illustration. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 3--3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isa fragmentary side elevational view of the -manual operating crank shown on enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a -side elevational view of our power-operated adjustable bed showing by dashed lines varying positions of `parts and portions thereof vand Fig `is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken from the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several -views of the drawing.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, we have provideda main operating shaft 3 which is a hollow shaft, having the screw 9 fixed in connecticn with one end thereof. This hollow shaft is shouldered intermediate the two bearings 6 and 'I which are radial load vbearings and also take longitudinal thrust of the shaft 3. A worm -wheel 5 provided with -a central bore 5a is Aslidably mounted longitudinally of the outer side of the shaft 3; extending through the hub of this worm Wheel 5 is the bolt 5b and this bolt projects through slots 3a in the sidewall of the hollow shaft 3, thus the bolt y5b is slidable 'together with the worm Wheel 5 longitudinally of the shaft 3 and the spring 8 engages the bolt 5b internally of the bore 3b of the shaft 3. The opposite end of this spring 8 is abutted to the plug-8a in-the shaft 3, all as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawings'. The motor I as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings is provided with shaft Ia. on which is fixed the worm 4. This worm. 4 on the shaft Ia is disposed transversely of the shaftf3 and the teeth Y5c of the worm wheel 5 mesh with the helical form of the worm 4 at its periphery. It will be noted that `longitudinal movementof the Worm Wheel 5 on the shaft 3 causes disengagement of the teeth 5c from the peripheral helical form of the worm 4. The outboard end of the shaft Ia of the motor I is supported by a ball-bearing Ibfretained by the adjusting set screw Ic screwthreaded in the gear box 2 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The shaft IU is an internally screw-threaded hollow shaft engaging the externalscrew threads of the shaft 9, and is arranged to be extended or retracted by the rotation of said shaft 9 in connection with the shaft 3. This shaft 3 is provided with an externally screwthreaded portion 3c on the outer side of whichthe limit switch stops Il and I2 are screw-threaded. These stops Il and I2 are substantially vdiscshaped having flat portions IIa latone side engaged by the stop guide I3 secured in the normally upper side of the casing 2. This stop guide I3 prevents `turning of the limit switch stops II 3 and I2 so that they are moved longitudinally of the axis of the shaft 3 by reason of their screwthreaded relation relatively to the shaft 3 and it will be here noted that the initial setting of these limit switch steps I I and i2 may be made by removing the stop guide I3 and rotating the limit switch stops II and I2 to the desired spaced relation with the contacts Ilia andi |511l of the switches iii and I5 which control the motor I. The shaft 3 is provided with an open-end 3d around which is provided an annular groove 3c adapted to be engaged by the clip end Ila of the detent il which is a plate spring member xed on the outer side of the shank Ita of the manual operating handle I5, which is a crank-shaped handle at one end provided with a bolt-engaging notched portion Iiib at its opposite end arranged to engage the bolt 5b in connection with the worm Wheel 5 as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. It

will be noted 'that the end of the casing 2l is provided with a cap Ela arranged to cover the open end 3d of the shaft 3. As shown in. Fig. 5 of the drawings, the casing 2l' is' pivotaily mounted by means of trunnions 2lb to a bracket 28a of the bed frame 28. The shaft Iii is pivotally connected to the bell crank I3 by means of the pin I8a which is also a common pivotal mounting for one end of the link 2i which is connected at its opposite end by a pin a extending through the lever 25 intermediate its ends. This lever 25 is stationarily mounted by means of the pin 25h to the bed frame 23. rihe bell crank I8 is a quadrantshaped mem-ber having a stop 23 thereon adapted to engage the lever I3 which is pivoted on the pin Ifb extending through the bell crank I8. This pin |81) provides a stationary pivotal mounting for the bell crank i8 and the lever i3 and ultimately to the bed frame 2B. The extending end of the lever I9 is provided with the roller 23 engageable with the foot section 23 of the bed which is mounted to the bed frame 28 by means of the pin 23a. rl'he head section 22 is engaged by the roller 25 on the end of the lever 23 and this head section 22 is pivotally mounted to the bed frame 28 by means of the pin 22a. It will be noted that the stop 26 engages the lever I9 and forces the same into engagement with the foot section 23 after a certain amount of movement of the bell crank I8 has taken place in which case the head section 22 of the bed is slightly elevated before the foot section 23 rises from the horizontal frame of the bed frame 28.

The operation of our power-operated adjustable bed is substantially as follows:

When the motor I is electrically energized by closing an electrical circuit in connection therewith the worm l rotates in mesh with thel worm wheel 5 on the shaft 3 causing rotative movement of the shaft The force of rotation transmitted by the worm wheel 5 to the bolt 5b is transmitted `by the bolt 5b to the shaft 3. The externally screw-threaded shaft operating in the internally screw-threaded shaft I5 causes extension or retraction of said shaft lil which causes pivotal movement of the bell crank I3 about the axis of the pin lh on which it is mounted. When the head and foot sections of the bed are to be raised progressive operation of the levers 29 and I3 cause the head section to be elevated first, after which the stop 25 engages the lever I3 and forces the same into engagement with the foot rest section 23, which subsequently raises the same. It will be noted that a lever 2li may he positioned on each side of the bed and a bell crank I8, togetherwith a link 2l may also be positioned on each side extending end.

of the bed in connection with the shaft I8b to equalize the pressure of elevation of the head and foot sections 22 and 23. During rotative movement of the shaft 3 in the extension or the retraction of the head and foot rest portions of the bed the limit switch stops II and I2 traverse the shaft 3 longitudinally thereof and alternately engage the resilient arms Ida and IEa of the limit switches I4 and I5 for opening the same andv breaking the circuit to the motor I for preventing the same from forcing the head and footrest portions 22 and 23 beyond a certain desired position. The stop guide I3 prevents rotation of the limit switch stops II and I2, except for the purposes of adjustment at which time the guide I3 is removed and the stops II and I2 may be adjusted longitudinally of the shaft 3 as desired. In the event the electrical power fails and it is desired to elevate the head and foot sections 22 and 23 of our power-operated adjustable bed manually, the cap 21a is removed from casing 21, exposing the open end 3d of the shaft 3. The manual operating handle I5 at its end portion |65 is inserted in the open end of the shaft 3 and forced inwardly until the notched portion |31; engages the bolt 5b; the handle I6 is further forced inwardly until the spring 8 is compressed and the detent clip I 1a engages the annular groove 3e in the outer side of the shaft 3 at its When the detent clip Ila is engaged in the annular groove 3e, the notched portion lee maintains the teeth 5c of the worm wheel 5 out of a mesh with the externally helical forml of the worms, permitting the shaft 3 to operate f independently of the motor I. The manual operating handle I6 being crank-shaped is rotated about the axis of the shaft 3, carrying with it the worm wheel 5 and the shaft 3 together with the externally screw-threaded shaft 9 on which the internally screw-threaded shaft I3 traverses. The mechanical clutch provided'by the worm il and worm wheel 5 is a very simple and very positive clutch mechanism, easily operated by the manual operating handle I6. The worm wheel 5 moving longitudinally of its axis slides out of mesh very readily from the helical form at the periphery of the worm 4. When the spring clip detent II is released from Vthe annular groove 3e in the shaf t 3 the spring 8 forces the manual operating handle I6 outwardly of the shaft 3, and causes engagement of the teeth 5c of the Worm wheel 5 with the external helical form of the worm li, `whereupon motorized operation of our power-operated adjustable bed may be resumed.

Though we have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, we do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of our invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a power-operated adjustable bed, a rotatable hollow shaft, a worm operatively supported axially transverse to said shaft, power means for driving said worm, a worm wheel mounted on said shaft for movement longitudinally thereof and adapted to engage with and disengage from said worm, means for holding said worm Wheel against rotative displacement relative to said shaft, said means comprising a bolt in connection with said worm wheel, said hollow shaft having slotted side walls through which said bolt extends, spring means supported within said hollow shaft exerting its bias upon said bolt for positioning said worm wheel on said shaft for engagement with said worm, a pair of limit switches in spaced relationship to one another for controlling the operation of said power means, limit switch stop members externally screwthreaded on said main rotatable shaft for movement longitudinally thereof, guide means arranged to prevent rotation of said limit switch stop members on said shaft, said limit switch stop members adapted to engage said limit switches individually on rotation of said shaft a certain number of revolutions, the particular limit switch engaged dependent on the direction of rotation of the shaft, and a manual operating handle insertable in said hollow shaft and engageable with said bolt for moving said Worm wheel laterally of the axis of said worm against the bias of said spring means to disengage said worm Wheel from said worm.

GRAHAM D. MCVICKER. EUGENE L. HOLSTON.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 853,820 Moody May 14, 1907 945,472 Moores Jan. 4, 1910 1,078,815 Wiegand Nov. 18, 1913 1,193,089 Wagner et al Aug. l, 1916 1,843,875 Kendall et al Feb. 2, 1932 1,858,624 Hess et al. May 17, 1932 2,114,013 Ball Apr. 12, 1938 2,173,660 Perkins Sept. 19, 1939 2,202,383 Freund May 28, 1940 2,238,622 Borland Apr. 15, 1941 2,279,307 Hymer et al Apr. 14, 1942 2,318,010 Panish May 4, 1943 2,407,537 Chapman Sept. 10, 1946 2,414,032 Fawkes Jan. 7, 1947 2,503,146 Anketell Apr. 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 783,432 France July 12, 1935 

